NEW ORLEANS: IT’S A PLACE OF RICH CULTURE & RICH HISTORY. IT’S A PLACE OF AMAZING CUISINE & JOYOUS PEOPLE. EVERY OCCASION IS WORTH A HAPPY CELEBRATION, EVEN THE “SAD” OCCASIONS. DESPITE BEING LET DOWN BY NATURE & OTHER ENEMIES, THE CITY CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON FIRE FOR LIFE & KEEPING ITS HISTORY & LEGACY ALIVE. IT’S A STRONG CITY, THAT KEEPS FIGHTING. THIS CITY NEVER MISSES A BEAT….

“I’M SO PERFECT SO DIVINE SO ETHEREAL SO SURREAL
I CANNOT BE COMPREHENDED EXCEPT BY MY PERMISSION”…
-EGO TRIPPING (NIKKI GIOVANNI)

I’M MORE THAN GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INSPIRATION!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🖤🖤🖤

Today is filled with working my summer job at the rather small, local amusement park where I’m working the gift shop. My coworkers and I alternate positions almost daily. There are an equal number of pros and cons when being employed at this famous community amusement park. 

Pros: Since my coworkers and customers are from all over the world, I communicate from a worldly perspective one being, greeting in different languages. I’m a worldly cultured person and working here helps me display those traits. Also, the environment is family oriented, most days I feel as if I’m at a family barbeque.

Cons: The typical, long hours for little pay. Many days, I’m here from open to close. This is a summer position, so it’s hot, with many people in a small setting. The weather determines your mood, and many customers take their frustrations out on us. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been yelled at and I haven’t been working here a month.  

Overall, the positive outweighs the negative.

I’m currently working in the gift shop. It’s usually quiet and I’m inside. It’s still early when a customer enters. She’s an elderly woman from Palestine. She walked in with the biggest smile on her face. First, she asked for assistance with her purchase. Moments later, she asks, “Is it ok if I can pray to God?” “Sure!” I reply without hesitation. She is a devout Muslim; she prays five times a day no matter her current location. After her prayer, we begin to converse. She immediately notices my passion for languages, travel, and culture. So, she decides to give me a brief Arabic lesson. Learning about new languages is always a breeze for me, stemming from my ability to communicate with everyone. I’m enjoying the lesson, and I love that we’re both smiling the entire time. I can’t help but feel excited. This is my first time learning any Arabic. My world knowledge is expanding right here at home. She continues telling me that she led her entire family to the U.S., followed by some brief experiences growing up in Palestine. I feel overjoyed for her, as she overcame her obstacles, she is very social and joyous.

My ordinary day at work turned out to be fantastic. As I’m leaving for the day, I see her again. I can’t leave without saying goodbye. I tap her on the shoulder, she turns around. Before I can get my words in, she gives me the biggest hug, then introduces me to her family. As I’m leaving, I’m smiling, enjoying my lesson in another culture.

After the wedding at the Cathedral, it was finally time for the real wedding, the traditional wedding, where the entire neighborhood is invited. I saw brochures of Auntie and my new uncle all over the neighborhood. Weddings are a community gathering in the motherland.

We arrived at the family home, and there were already hundreds of locals eating. We went inside got changed and were ready to make our entrance.

We entered and for me it was overwhelming. I felt included (at least from the outside). It was constant dancing and everyone getting along. I was afraid that I would be exhausted but I wasn’t….

The day before Auntie’s big day, we drove to the venue, and did some last minute preparations for her wedding. We stayed at a hotel close to the church. We stayed up all night, I think we only had about three hours of sleep. The joys of weddings.

It was the morning of the wedding. We had to wear white for the church wedding. We immediately got dressed and began taking pictures. I was exhausted, but was having a great time. The bridesmaids wore yellow, and they looked amazing in it. It was finally time for the “church wedding”. We went to the Catholic Church, done the traditions, and went on with the wedding. There were about 6-8 couples getting married, and Auntie and her new husband were right in the middle. That’s a good way to not take up so much time. It was all good vibes, then it was time for the traditional wedding, I couldn’t wait…..

Bright and early, we were on our way to the family home, (Grandma and Grandpa’s house). It was a long drive, we slept a little, and Mom (my friend’s mom) was talking about her childhood memories of walking long distances to school, and where her friends lived. Driving through just gives you a certain type of positive vibe.

A couple of hours later, we arrived at the family home and met the family. My new family is huge, 9 siblings total (I think). Other than the summer time, Christmas is the most convenient time for the entire family to be reunited. The home was beautiful. We spent time eating breakfast and chatting. It was a great environment.

Later that day, it was lunchtime. Our cousins who were already there had plans to go out with friends, so my friend and I decided to join them. We went to a wedding. We met some family members, we ate and then we left. For me, that was the coolest, you can’t just attend a wedding just to eat. It was kinda nice. We also drove by a masquerade, then chilled at a hotel (the pool area).

That evening we went back home to cook dinner. The aunties and I were in the kitchen, helping out. Then an uncle came and joined the conversation. He asked me my name (again). Then he proceeded to ask me my “English name”. I was confused. He explained that he has an English name, and then it clicked in my head that many non- Americans have English names. I think it’s a bunch of bs, names are important.

The first day with the family was incredible. I experienced so much culture in one day. I knew at that point that this trip will change my life.

We arrived in Lagos, and were picked up by an uncle. We stayed at his home for the night. I thought: “I’m home. I’m with my family. This is my family.” I didn’t stand out.

We ate dinner, and watched tv. I felt that I was at a party. Family was coming in and out, outside was very busy. There was good conversation and good laughs. It was time to take it down. I took a shower, and then went to bed. My new family had an assumption that I wouldn’t adjust well to their living conditions. They were wrong! I’m not that kind of person. I have always been willing to immerse myself in a different environment, and see the positive side of it. Yes, the conditions were different from mine but not in the country that I was in, and I was already expose to it, we all don’t live the same. (I wish western people would get that through their brains).

While in the shower, the lights go off. Everyone was concerned for me, while I was continuing to shower. Then I prepared to go to bed, we had a long drive to the family home the next day……

I came home from a normal, tiring day at my temporary job, and received great news. To spend the holidays in Nigeria with my best friend and her family. I was excited because of the fact that I’ll be going to experience the raw Africa, and not through school or work.

The preparations was a long process but went smoothly. Fast forward, I’m still packing on Christmas Day. We left the day after. We met at my friends house, and I’m pretty sure they packed all of their belongings. There were millions of suitcases. We traveled to the airport, and of course every suitcase (except mine) was overweight. So we spent alot of time repacking, and finally we were in the air….

Travel is the only passion that I’ve had since childhood. At one time I wanted to be a teacher, then an astronaut, followed by a professional athelete, then to any career involving traveling.

After receiving my Master’s degree, I fulfilled my plan of teaching English in Taiwan. Though it was cut a little short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m forever grateful for the experience, life lessons and new places I visited. I finally began to find myself. I acknowledge my actions, I’ve been grudge free.

Now that this current adventure is almost coming to a close, I can’t help but think about the next journey (It doesn’t hurt to think right?). I’m getting the vibe of a Latin country such as Colombia or Spain. I always wanted to go to Spain, Barcelona to be exact. I was fascinated by the architecture and the food. What fascinates me about Colombia is their dancing, energy and food as well. Colombian salsa is intense, and I can see myself joining right in.

According the organization: “We Work to Travel”, I’m considered an “Intermediate Traveler”, one who has been to 6-15 countries. I can acknowledge that title, but in my mind, I’m a Travel Guru. I should’ve been to more places by now. So now, I have a goal to focus on, to be a Travel Guru statistically. Traveling is my passion, so it’s only right to go as many places as I can no matter the situation…….except the one we’re in currently.